1/29/23

sprightly, vivacious and scintillating. ( )

really interesting...i'm definitely going to go and give those classics a look

In "A history of histories" bespreekt John Burrow geschiedschrijvers vanaf de Griekse oudheid tot aan het heden. Hij kijkt hierbij naar de manier waarop historici in bepaalde perioden tegen het verleden aankeken en geeft daarbij aan welke geschiedschrijvers hij meer en minder interessant vind. Vooral de stukken over geschiedschrijvers die ik al gelezen heb vond ik interessant. ( )

I have just one regret at reading this ambitious survey of 2500 years of the practice of history—my only contact with almost all of the historians surveyed has been through this book. That's nothing against John Burrow, who admirably covers an enormous range of work here, without imposing any kind of strained overall narrative. But it does leave me thinking that it's a shame how dependent we've become on this kind of work. We're not going to read 20 ancient great historians, 10 more medievals, and 30-some more moderns, in their entirety... not in our lifetimes, most of us. I'll be lucky if I make it to the end of my twice-started Herodotus. So, until I win the lottery or buy that reading chair on my retirement, there are books like this.